Vegetable exports to Pakistan via Wagah Border up by 300 percent

Wagah, Dec 8 (ANI): Export of vegetables from India to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border has touched an all time high, recording an increase of 300 percent, after the opening of trade through trucks in October. Border trade through trucks between India and Pakistan, flagged off by the Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal on October 1, became operational for the first time after partition in 1947. Within the first two months of the commencement of the truck service between the two countries, trade figures shot up, indicating a 300 to 400 percent increase in business especially for Punjab traders. “It has approximately increased from 300 percent to 400 percent. During October we had about 1000 trucks with fresh vegetables worth rupees 200 million crossing over to Pakistan. And during September, it was around 300 trucks worth rupees 50 million worth of exports of fresh vegetables,” said Sanjay Sharn, Joint Commissioner, Custom, Amritsar. The authorities on both sides are now trying to open a separate gate, which would allow free movement of cargo between India and Pakistan. “The process is already on. We are trying to have a separate gate, exclusive separate gate for cargo with a fence path, which will cater to movement of cargo. That is going to definitely increase the trade between both countries,” added Sharn. Until the opening of trade via trucks, goods were off-loaded by trucks near the borders in own countries, and then carried manually by hundreds of porters on to the other sides of the border. And larger volumes of goods used to be carried on the Kandla-Dubai-Karachi route. With the time, distance and money involved, that process made no business sense. India’s exports to Pakistan in 2004-05 jumped 76 percent to 505.44 million dollars from 286 million dollars in 2003-04. Imports from Pakistan during the same period rose 65 percent to 95.33 million dollars from 57.74 million dollars a year ago. (ANI)